Emergency department ophthalmoscopy: physician confidence and clinical practices.

Objectives: Fundoscopy is crucial in the emergency department to identify or rule out serious ocular and neurological conditions. Despite its clinical importance, fundoscopy is often omitted due to the technical challenges associated with traditional direct ophthalmoscopy, particularly for non-ophthalmologists. This study examines emergency physicians' practices, confidence levels, and training related to various modalities of fundoscopy including traditional direct ophthalmoscopes, binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes, panoptic ophthalmoscopes, slit lamp fundoscopy and fundus cameras; and explores the potential role of alternative modalities, such as fundus cameras, in Canadian emergency departments.

Machine learning models predicting risk of revision or secondary knee injury after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction demonstrate variable discriminatory and accuracy performance: a systematic review.

Background: To summarize the statistical performance of machine learning in predicting revision, secondary knee injury, or reoperations following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and to provide a general overview of the statistical performance of these models.

Methods: Three online databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE) were searched from database inception to February 6, 2024, to identify literature on the use of machine learning to predict revision, secondary knee injury (e.g.

Classes of outpatient quality of care among individuals with substance-related disorders, based on a survey and health insurance registry.

Objectives: Improving quality of care for individuals with substance-related disorders (SRD) should be a priority considering SRD are associated with high morbidity. This study aimed to identify classes of individuals with SRD based on their clinical characteristics and the quality of outpatient care they received, and to verify whether better quality of care was associated with other respondent characteristics and more favorable subsequent outcomes.

Methods: Data came from the 2023-14 and 2015-16 Canadian Community Health Survey (N = 42,099), merged with administrative data from Quebec's health insurance registry.

Overcoming CD226-related immune evasion in acute myeloid leukemia with CD38 CAR-engineered NK cells.

CD226 plays a vital role in natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity, interacting with its ligands CD112 and CD155 to initiate immune synapse formation, primarily through leukocyte function-associated-1 (LFA-1). Our study examined the role of CD226 in NK cell surveillance of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). NK cells in patients with AML had lower expression of CD226.

Exploring the challenges in manual wheelchair operation for new users.

This exploratory qualitative study examines the challenges faced by manual wheelchair (MWC) users and their clinicians, with a focus on mobility difficulties in both outdoor and indoor environments, as well as training priorities. The study involved semi-structured interviews with 18 clinicians and 25 MWC users from various rehabilitation centres. The interviews, lasting between 30 and 60 minutes, explored specific aspects of MWC use, including mobility challenges, training needs, and psychological factors.

The Emerging Role of Multimodality Imaging in the Diagnosis and Management of Post Pericardiotomy Syndrome.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to evaluate current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS), with a focus on the evolving role of multimodality imaging, including echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography (CCT), and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). The review also explores the potential benefits of advanced imaging in improving the accuracy and management of PPS.

Recent Findings: PPS, a common complication following cardiac surgery, presents with pleuritic chest pain, fever, and pericardial or pleural effusion.

Nanoscale reference and test materials for the validation of characterization methods for engineered nanomaterials - current state, limitations, and needs.

The rational design of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) with improved functionality and their increasing industrial application requires reliable, validated, and ultimately standardized characterization methods for their application-relevant, physicochemical key properties such as size, size distribution, shape, or surface chemistry. This calls for nanoscale (certified) reference materials (CRMs; RMs) and well-characterized reference test materials (RTMs) termed also quality control (QC) samples, assessed, e.g.

Facilitators and barriers affecting the implementation of e-health for chronic respiratory diseases in remote settings: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

Background: Chronic respiratory diseases are important causes of disability and mortality globally. Their incidence may be higher in remote locations where healthcare is limited and risk factors, such as smoking and indoor air pollution, are more prevalent. E-health could overcome some healthcare access obstacles in remote locations, but its utilisation has been limited.

Understanding the Components of Eating Behaviour-Focused Weight Management Interventions Adjunct to Metabolic Bariatric Surgery: Systematic Review of Published Literature.

Purpose Of Review: Eating behaviour-focused interventions are essential for improving health and weight-related outcomes in patients undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS). This work aims to examine the content of eating behaviour-focused weight management interventions adjunct to MBS in terms of the type and quantity of behaviour change techniques (BCTs). A literature search retrieved randomised controlled and parallel group trials up to March 2024.

ARSACS: Clinical Features, Pathophysiology and iPS-Derived Models.

Autosomal-recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is an early-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the SACS gene. The first two mutations were identified in French Canadian populations 20 years ago. The disease is now known as one of the most frequent recessive ataxias worldwide.

Microbial volatile organic compounds measured in the air of a waste sorting plant and a university by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

In recyclable waste management facilities, several contaminants, mainly bioaerosols and microorganisms, can be released and cause potential adverse health effects. Given that microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) are metabolites developed by molds and since they can be considered as potential biomarkers of mold exposure, their concentrations in ambient air were monitored at a recyclable waste sorting plant (WSP) and a university campus (UC) serving as control environment for comparison. A recently developed analytical method was used for the detection of 21 selected mVOCs in real conditions.

Processes and measurements: a framework for understanding neural oscillations in field potentials.

Various neuroscientific theories maintain that brain oscillations are important for neuronal computation, but opposing views claim that these macroscale dynamics are 'exhaust fumes' of more relevant processes. Here, we approach the question of whether oscillations are functional or epiphenomenal by distinguishing between measurements and processes, and by reviewing whether causal or inferentially useful links exist between field potentials, electric fields, and neurobiological events. We introduce a vocabulary for the role of brain signals and their underlying processes, demarcating oscillations as a distinct entity where both processes and measurements can exhibit periodicity.

EEFSEC deficiency: A selenopathy with early-onset neurodegeneration.

Inborn errors of selenoprotein expression arise from deleterious variants in genes encoding selenoproteins or selenoprotein biosynthetic factors, some of which are associated with neurodegenerative disorders. This study shows that bi-allelic selenocysteine tRNA-specific eukaryotic elongation factor (EEFSEC) variants cause selenoprotein deficiency, leading to progressive neurodegeneration. EEFSEC deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder, manifests with global developmental delay, progressive spasticity, ataxia, and seizures.

Renal Tubule-Specific Angiotensinogen Deletion Attenuates SGLT2 Expression and Ameliorates Diabetic Kidney Disease in Murine Models of Type 1 Diabetes.

The role of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (iRAS) in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression remains unclear. In this study, we generated mice with renal tubule-specific deletion of angiotensinogen (Agt; RT-Agt-/-) in both Akita and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced mouse model of diabetes. Both Akita RT-Agt-/- and STZ-RT-Agt-/- mice exhibited significant attenuation of glomerular hyperfiltration, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, glomerulomegaly and tubular injury.

De novo transcriptome assembly and discovery of drought-responsive genes in white spruce (Picea glauca).

Forests face an escalating threat from the increasing frequency of extreme drought events driven by climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to understand how widely distributed species of economic or ecological importance may respond to drought stress. In this study, we examined the transcriptome of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) to identify key genes and metabolic pathways involved in the species' response to water stress.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Numerous studies have highlighted the role of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. Yet, the alignment of systemic and central oxidative stress biomarkers is unclear across diverse populations in the AD continuum. This study aims to assess protein damage levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the AD continuum.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Soluble Aβ oligomers (AβOs) induce synapse dysfunction, leading to cognitive impairment and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our laboratory and several research groups characterized neurexin family members' physiological roles, pivotal synaptic adhesion molecules for development, plasticity, and maintenance. Beyond their normal functions, we found neurexins binding to AβOs causes AβO-induced neurexin dysregulation.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging greatly impacted Alzheimer's disease (AD) research and diagnosis. which makes predicting PET brain imaging alterations using blood data is of high interest. Additionally, integrating PET and omics data can provide new insights into AD pathophysiology.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Clinicopathological studies of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have demonstrated that synaptic or neuronal loss and clinical cognitive decline do not reliably correlate with fibrillar amyloid burden. We created a transgenic mouse model overexpressing Dutch (E693Q) mutant human amyloid precursor protein (APP) driven by the pan-neuronal Thy1 promoter. Accumulation of APP carboxyl-terminal fragments was observed in the brains of these mice, which develop an impaired learning phenotype directly proportional to brain oAβ levels.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Despite amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles being recognized as major Alzheimer's Disease (AD) hallmarks, their synergistic contribution to neuronal activity remains unclear. We developed a neuroimaging-based personalized brain activity model to assess the in-vivo functional impact of AD pathophysiology. In previous reports, model-inferred neuronal excitability predicted disease progression (i.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: A growing body of research has focused on inflammation as both a potential biomarker and a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders and in the physiological homeostasis of neural tissue. AD has been associated with increased IL-6 expression in brain, however, increased levels of IL-6 have also been linked to conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Genetic variants that confer protection from Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be particularly critical in developing therapeutics. To target protective variant identification, we performed genetic association testing among selected individuals with whole genome sequencing (WGS) that remained alive and dementia-free beyond age 85 ("Wellderly").

Methods: We selected 1,873 White and Black Wellderly individuals with documented normal cognition beyond age 85 as determined by direct, in-person assessment with WGS from the NHLBI TOPMed project.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are increasingly recognized for their role in cognitive decline and the progression of neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite advances in imaging technologies, the exact contribution of WMHs to disease processes remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to apply machine learning approaches to determine critical features of AD-related neuropathologies in vivo.

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Activation of the mTOR pathway is pivotal for microglia to induce and sustain neuroprotective functions (Ulland et al., 2017; Wang et al., 2022).

Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Inflammation is central to Alzheimer Disease (AD), as astrocyte reactivity accompanies the appearance of Aβ and phosphorylated tau (Bellaver et al., 2023). As expected, therefore, AD patients have elevated levels of CSF inflammatory cytokines (Onyango et al.